observation not theory
http://s2.graphiq.com/sites/default/files/2237/media/images/t2/_415990_i2.jpg
http://goo.gl/8L4PoF
is T-91 ? or ?
the gunnison is quiet, hugs down to the ground in wind.
Tent n fly need mid span loops.
NF produces AAA designs. I have a 6’6" NF -0- bag. Once in a …I’ll spring for a discounted rag.
not quite a T-91
This photo has the T-891 Wabash in the center in the image. The earlier T-91 was tan with grey-green fly and was 12" narrower across the rear footprint…
http://s12.photobucket.com/user/meganandrusty/media/cannondale/cannondaletents002.jpg.html
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– Last Updated: Aug-05-16 2:40 AM EST –
The T photo I posted comes from a collection in Google Images
When I examined the Goo Image photo you posted, my reaction was I was looking at a joke photo of broken or badly designed tents.
You"re pulling our leg ?
Think I found my tent
Alps Mountaineering Extreme 2 tent. Looks almost as tough as a 4 season tent but much better ventilation for summer use. Plus its not super pricey like a Hilleberg tent. Its heavy but like I said who cares when kayak camping.
http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/products/tents/backpacking-tents/extreme
not at all pulling your leg
I don’t know why the owners of those 3 Cannondale tents have the side guys pulled out so far in a few of their shots. There is no need for them to sag in the ridgeline – all it takes is a sharp tug on the camlock webbing loops at the front and rear stakes to snug up the canopy.
My Cannondales were fortresses. Shed heavy wet snowloads like they were spindrift, completely dry in monsoon like rains or jungle-like humidity and impervious to high winds. The thicker diameter poles helped – the walls and roofs can’t deflect as they do with skinny fiberglass and flexing aluminum poles. Only the arched middle sections of solid flexible polyethylene bend. Great ventilation for warm weather too and that huge floorless vestibule was an innovation in that era. Sturdier fabrics, zippers and webbing than many other backpacking tents and most seams triple-stitched.
During the years I did a lot of winter backpacking and mountaineering, even though I also owned a North Face VE-24 winter geodesic dome tent, I preferred the T-891 for snow camping. Always was snug, secure and dry in that tent. I haven’t used it in a long time but maybe it’s time to air it out.
packed size ?
Kelty Gunnison
Minimum trail weight 4 lbs. 11 oz.
Packed size 13 x 16 inches
Floor dimensions 84 x 52 inches 7/4
Floor area 30 square feet
Vestibule area 15 + 8 square feet
Peak height 42 inches
The Alps boasts a higher D count…bathtub floor ?
Alps top view plus measures gives a block shape where the Gunnison is narrow and long. Gunnison is tight (er)for 2.
Kelty Gunnison
Kelty Gunnison looks just like my Kelty Grand Mesa 2. Not seeing how that would handle wind any better than what I already have.
The Alps has another full pole which looks to me like it would handle heavy wind much better. Since I don’t have local access to it I can only presume from looking at the pole design its a stronger design.
All the 4 season tents I looked at most have another full pole or 2 like the Alp Extreme 3 season tent. But the Alp being a 3 season is much better vented. I don’t intend to use any tent in the winter but like the tougher design of 4 season tents BUT way to hot for my use. So this Alps Extreme looks best to me. See zero advantage with the Gunnison.
I’ve had good luck
Locking down tents after adding an extra 5 feet of p cord to each major tie down or corner. If you pile a good size stack of rocks, or tie it into something solid like roots or a log, the tent won’t go anywhere. Much better than stakes,especially on a beach.
only a comparison …
the Alps seems to review well…
http://www.google.com/#q=review+Alp+Extreme+3+season+tent
and claims status as a ‘mountaineering tent’ where the Gunnison is merely ‘a tent’
the Alps adverts a lot more for an extra $50 where the Kelty has a solid background of reliable durability.
buy color coded cord n practice setting the Alps with cord n stakes …cut cords n pack. Add midspan loops. Buy extra long poly stakes if the geology is loose ground.
Then you should have an idea of Force One guying, Force Two…
after 4-5 practice sessions, onto the bank n setup and in will take 10-15 minutes for Force two
Agree on 3 poles
My two pole Eureka 2 man was wind flattened with me in it and left me thinking an extra pole would have helped, 3 poles for me now.
I like the MSR Elixir I have now. The fly takes on a rounded shape which slips wind well
https://www.rei.com/product/865346/msr-elixir-2-tent-with-footprint
If you want more screen, their Hubba Hubba series is similarly designed.
They are well made.
I have that same tent
Kelty Grand Mesa 2. Have not had it in severe wind. Am curious if you had wrapped the Velcro tabs on the rain fly, around the poles. It would be an easy step to leave out, but, might make a difference.
Its in the rigging
Find a tent with multiple tie down points…
Or put a sil-nylon tarp over what you do have, but be sure the tarp is spiked down on 7 to 8 points.
There are plenty of two pole backpacker tents that work fine in the wind if you have the line and spikes, pockets, or pickets to bolt them down. Heavy rain will generally require an auxiliary tarp though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7OyVDMRchY … enjoy the color commentary. MSR Hubba Hubba… I used this for along time. It would have not blown away if I would have been it. I was chicken shit that day. This was the storm system that flooded Duluth in 2012. .
The rain fly started getting leaky after several years, not during that storm system though. I bought a new one last year, they have less netting in the walls now and I like the fly design better. I used it at this same campsite last October and it was another TS show. No hail though. They are white / red now. No photo of it at the storm campsite. This is the only trip I used it on so far. Packs nice. single pole design. Free stand.
That’s an adventure Pattit!
Wow.
An altogether different approach is to sleep tentless. I’ve slept next to my kayak, with and without a bivy bag, and with and without a very low tarp (using top of kayak as ridge line). Depending on how high above water you are, you can trench out a little area where you’re sleeping to increase head room (to keep tarp off of nose). Precipitation or other environmental conditions may make this more or less practical. If it’s especially windy, one of the disadvantages of sleeping tentless (mosquitoes & other biting flying things) will likely have taken care of itself.
As long as sneaky snake doesn’t show up.
And then there’s something like the trailstar, is it a tent or tarp?
https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/trailstar/
This was my post from 2 years ago.
I ended up buy an ALPS Mountaineering Extreme 2 Person Tent. Super strong but a big heavy tent. Not a tent for backpacking but kayaking no problem. I think it could pass the hilleberg fan test.
I have a three pole two man tent from North Face . Two man however is subject to interpretation… It is very windproof especially with the tent aligned with the direction of the wind and the fly on. Its no longer made of course but there are many three pole two man tents from North Face
https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/equipment-tents?cm_sp=CatEspot3--EQ--S18EQTents&banner=S18EQTents.EQ.Spring18.CatEspot3